I2O MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 



ianus at Finzel, Md., only y 2 a mile from the Pa. line." Merriam. " Not 

 plentiful at Elk Lick, but there are some." Mier, 1902. 



Sullivan Co. " Found all over wooded districts, but diminish as big timber 

 is removed. Rhododendron swamps are their haunts in winter." Behr, 1901. 

 Abundant about Eaglesmere. Bennett, 1896. "The 'Jack rabbit' is found 

 occasionally between Highland Lake and Eaglesmere and in other parts of 

 the Bald Eagle mountain." Parker, 1900. 



Tioga Co. " Driven by gray rabbit from clearings into deep swamps." 

 Cleveland, 1900. Plentiful; thousands in this locality (Blossburg). Bab- 

 cock, 1900. 



Union Co. " Seen a few years ago in the mountains. Some probably re- 

 main in Union Co." Chambers, 1900. 



Venango Co. " Not found. Have endeavored to stock our woods with 

 them without success." Dorworth, 1900. 



Wayne Co. Numerous. Stocker, 1900. Fast decreasing. Goodnough, 

 1900. Quite a number to be found in swamps. Stevens, 1900. " Decreas- 

 ing; 3 or 4 shot in Nov., 1899, at White's Valley, only half white." Day. 

 Some left. Teeple, 1900. A few killed in the swamps every winter. Kellew, 

 1900. 



Wyoming Co. Found all over wooded districts. Behr, 1901. Quite 

 plenty on the mountains in some places. Robinson, 1900. 



Records in N.J. Passaic Co. Exterminated in the vicinity of Greenwood 

 Lake mountains about 1890. Larkin Hazen shot one in the mountain just 

 north of the state line, Orange Co., N. York, in 1891. Rhoads. 



Sussex Co. They used to frequent the tamarack swamps near Culver's 

 Lake and Long Pond, and were thought by hunters to still exist there in 

 1896. I was unable to find any in these swamps, however. Rhoads. 



Warren Co. Mr. Strickland, of Blairstown, told me that a few still existed 

 around the high mountain swamps and lakes of the Kittatinny Range. 

 Rhoads, 1902. 



Habits, etc. My knowledge of the habits of this hare is derived solely 

 from accounts given me by hunters. It does not differ very greatly from the 

 cottontail in habits, but prefers secluded swamps and shaded, wooded re- 

 treats to those more open ones frequented by the smaller species. The 

 apparent driving out of this large species by the latter is to my mind solely 

 due to deforestation, bringing about a climate fatal to its existence over vast 

 tracts once congenial. I doubt greatly if the small rabbit in any way perse- 

 cutes its rival, but it merely follows the "opening up of the country " because 

 that process enables it to live where formerly the virgin forest conditions 

 excluded it. 



The food of this hare being chiefly of trees and bushes, is of such a nature 

 at certain seasons as to make its flesh greatly inferior to that of the cotton- 



